Former economic crimes official Hua Liebing appointed to HKMAO discipline inspection

Hua Liebing, former director of the Public Security Ministry’s economic crime investigation bureau in mainland China, has been appointed to head the discipline inspection and supervision group of Beijing’s top office overseeing Hong Kong affairs.

The new appointment was revealed on Tuesday when the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) updated its organisation chart on its website, filling the vacancy left by Geng Changyou last year.

It marked another change in the office’s top ranks following the selection of Zhang Dongmei, a former vice-president of the All-China Women’s Federation, as a deputy director of the body in March.

Hua’s selection brings the HKMAO’s senior leadership to seven members.

These include Xia Baolong, who has led the HKMAO since 2020, and deputy director Zhou Ji, who also serves as the director of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong.

Born in Jiangsu province in 1967 and a history graduate from Shandong University, Hua, 59, has no known previous experience in Hong Kong affairs.